Discuss: The Gospel of Consumption

How can we be sure that what the article suggests could not happen? There is a movement, albeit small, but a movement to focus on happiness as opposed to economic growth.

I can cite several examples in the town I live in. Several NGOs offer European like schedules, good time off, sabbaticals and the such. The real decisions are up to us as individuals to commit to a life that focuses on our community (by working less) and not chasing the almighty dollar.

It sounds like many of us in this discussion are on the same page. Another excellent read on this matter is Bill McKibben’s book Deep Economy. A lot of the same thoughts, but with examples of how change is being made around the world. Check it out.

Hasn’t this model already been tried in Europe? Hasn’t this model been shown to be a complete failure? Can somebody explain why we should adopt this model when almost all of Europe is in the process of rejecting it?

Jawnybnsc, could you send me a link or two about this? I’m interested.

Thanks

Jawnybnsc is welcome to his own opinion but not his own facts.  If Europe was a failure why would the EURO be riding so high versus the dollar.  why would americans firms be flooding europe with investments and making big profits in firms that by law have to provide 4 or more weeks vacation and other generous time perks.  why would Germany still be the most effective manufactuing economy with double the exports of China.  Europeans laugh when they hear these ridiculous comments.  Ignorance seems to be bliss in the US.  Moreover, the European countries produce only half the pollution per capita that we do, their ecological footprint is only half ours, in every measure of health they do better than we do.  If that’s failure. we could use a little of it.  I would expect a bit more thought from Orion readers.  I’m curious as to whether jawnyybnsc (real names, please!!!--they should be required) has ever been to Europe.  As the US economy tanks the europeans now don’t only have the time, they have the money too.  their savings rate is 10% while ours is minus 2%.  Facts please!!!

There is a movment for responsibility represented by Participatory businesses around the world which welcome the investment of their Founder, Worker, Supplier and Consumer members for a whole cycle of economy (derived from the Latin meaning care and nurture or management of the household.

Each form associations to group specific contributions of labour-money-resources, labour, goods-services and money-patronage respectively.  When we inclusively plan for the livelihoods of each other, we open up enormous strengths.

Complementation (mutually beneficial relationship) is stronger than competition because it unites otherwize isolated resources into whole cycles and connects our intelligence in order to plan for the complexity that ecology and ecology represent.

Sometimes people ask questions when they don’t know the answers.  I appreciate the responses. 

Notwithstanding the dimensions that John de Graaf alludes to, can anyone share with me an explanation of the apparent change in political direction in Europe? If it is not connected in any way to the model we are discussing, then I would like to understand why you believe it is not.  Further, if you believe there is not a relationship, then perhaps you’d care to posit your own theory. 

If you would, please grant me the courtesy of assuming that my inquiries are made in earnest this time.

I think it’s also a bit disingenuous to hold up Germany as the model of Europe when it is readily apparent that Germany is the exception in Europe and not the rule.

And then by neo government decree my telivisions are to be destroyed by the forced digital conversion to” alien” technologies and i and my lands imprisoned to health insurance un regulatable costs companies, which strangely at my age and health would be a financial boon.............if i trusted corp drug companies or the paychecks they give to doctors and thus if i trusted doctors in this age of the non generak practiconer...which i maybe can not spell due to the fading memories of what may have been sensible medical practices